Best Airline Credit Cards

Many people around the world have taken a bigger interest in traveling. The likely cause of this trek to other parts of the world is likely due to an aging population and the younger generation wanting to gain careers and see the world before settling down. This travel interest has generated and even bigger interest in credit cards that offer airline miles and points towards travel. The basic idea behind these airline credit cards is that the cardholder earns points or ‘frequent flyer miles’ credits. The cardholder earns points for spending money on their credit card which they can redeem for airline travel.

There are many airline credit cards available, but which ones are the best? It’s important to find out what the predetermined point values are for various air travel before you apply for the card so that you can figure out how many points you will need—and how much money you will have to spend on your credit card—before you can redeem points for free air travel.

You must also be aware of airline credit card points expiry times, annual fees and interest rates. In many cases, an annual fee will apply and the interest rate may be higher than that of other credit cards. If your credit card is inactive for a long period of time or if you don’t use your points within a specified period of time, they may expire.

Discover card’s miles card boasts no annual fee and a bonus 12,000 air miles to sign up. With this card, you will earn one mile for every dollar you spend and the rewards program for air travel has no black out dates.

CitiBank’s Premier Pass airline rewards card gives you 5,000 bonus reward miles after your first purchase. You earn one reward point for each dollar you spend and one point for every three miles that you fly on any airline. CitiBank’s Premier Pass airline card boasts no annual fee.

Citi Gold AAdvantage World Mastercard gives you 12,500 bonus miles after you first purchase and one mile for every dollar spent. There are no blackout dates and the mileage awards have been reduced—5,000 fewer miles needed for select destinations. You can redeem your miles with over 25 of the world’s major airlines, car rental companies and hundreds of hotels worldwide.

Citi Premier Pass card-Elite level gives you 15,000 bonus miles after your first purchase. You will earn two points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases and 1 point on other purchases and for every mile flown on any airline. There is also unlimited companion travel.

Citi’s Platinum Select AAdvantage World Master card gives you 15,000 bonus miles after your first purchase and gives you one mile for every dollar you spend, up to 100,000 miles per year. No annual fee for the first year and no black out dates for rewards. You can redeem your miles with over 25 of the world’s major airlines, car rental companies and hundreds of hotels worldwide and the mileage awards are reduced by 7,500 fewer miles to select destinations.

Delta Sky Miles Gold credit card waives the annual fee for the first year. After your first purchase with this card, you earn 15,000 bonus Sky Miles and you will earn at least one Sky Mile for each dollar you spend. Delta Sky Miles also offers the double miles benefit always.

The Jet Blue card from American Express offers you 5,000 bonus award dollars with your first purchase. To earn True Blue points you must have 200 ‘award’ dollars and 100 True Blue points will get you a round-trip ticket to anywhere JetBlue flies. You can earn double award dollars on all your Jet Blue flight purchases made with the card as well as at movie theaters, restaurants, golf courses, concerts and other places of entertainment.

Alaska Airlines offers a Visa signature card. You earn one mile for every dollar you spend on your card. Alaska Airlines offers 5,000 bonus miles on approval of your card and an additional 1,000 miles if you apply online. On each anniversary as a card holder, you are given 2,000 bonus miles and a $50 round-trip companion ticket on approval. You can redeem your air miles with any Alaska Airlines or any of their 10 air line partners.

The Travel Plus Platinum Visa credit card from Chase has a low, $29 annual program fee and gives you one mile for every dollar in purchases. You are also given a 0% APR for purchases and balance transfers for up to 12 months. You can fly on over 250 major airlines with no restrictions or blackout dates and redeem your air miles for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and much more.

United Airlines Mileage Plus Visa card gives you 17,500 bonus miles after your first purchase. You earn one mile for every dollar spent in purchases and up to 11 miles for every dollar spent at participating restaurants nationwide. You will also receive a free one-way, 1,000 miles, one-class upgrade certificate and a United Discount travel certificate of $25.

Advanta Platinum Bonus Miles card offers a large credit line of up to $50,000 and a choice of travel rewards or 5% cash back. If you choose bonus miles, there is a $35 annual fee.

US Airways Visa Classic Card gives you 5,000 bonus miles after your first purchase and one mile for every net dollar spent. Your award travel includes over 139 countries and 795 airports worldwide and also offers up to $100,000 in travel accident insurance. You will also receive a $149 companion certificate each year.

Hawaiian Airlines Visa Classic card gives you 5,000 bonus miles after your first purchase and first minimum payment. You get one mile for every dollar spent and two miles for every ticket purchased directly from Hawaiian Airlines. Each anniversary you receive 2,500 bonus miles. With this card, you can also pool miles with your friends and family.

Hawaiian Airlines Platinum Visa card gives you 10,000 bonus miles on your first purchase and payment. You receive one mile for every dollar spent and two miles for every dollar spent at Hawaiian Airlines.

British Airways Visa Signature card offers 15,000 bonus miles with your first purchase and double miles for each dollar spent on purchases made at British Airways. You receive one mile for every other dollar spent and there is no limit on the amount of miles you can earn.

Continental Airlines World Master Card offers 15,000 bonus miles after your first purchase, double miles on purchases made at select merchants, on tickets purchased through Continental Airlines and at over 10,000 restaurants. There is no expiration of miles and no limit on how many miles you can earn.